Technique: Locating Sequence
Audio Levels that are Too Loud
Author: Larry Jordan
[This article was first
published in the August, 2006, issue of
Larry's Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click
here to subscribe.]
This technique was actually discovered by Mark,
in one of my Advanced Final Cut classes. But it is so cool,
it deserved it's own write-up.
One of the problems with Final Cut is that there is no easy
way to see if the audio mix in a  sequence
is too hot. During my classes, I stress to my students that
their audio levels must NEVER go above 0dB -- indicated by
glowing red clip lights at the top of the audio meter.
Audio levels that are too loud, also called too "hot," will
distort when you export your sequence or output it to video
tape. This is very, very bad.
But, the only way to tell if your audio is OK is to play
the entire sequence. In real time. And watch the meters like
a hawk. Sigh... this can take forever. There's got to be a
better way. And there is. Here's how.
1. Drag the sequence you want to check
from the Browser to the Viewer. Don't double-click it or it
will open in the Timeline.
2. With the Viewer selected, choose Mark > Audio
Levels > Mark.
3. Final Cut will quickly, and I mean quickly, scan your
entire sequence...
4. ...and put a marker where ever it finds audio levels
that are too loud. See the little green markers in the image
below? Those are places where the audio is too hot (loud).
Those markers that Final Cut set in your sequence in the
Viewer are retained by the sequence. Double-click the sequence
in the Browser to open it in the Timeline. See the markers?
5. You can now quickly jump from one marker to the next
(Shift+M or Option+M) and
adjust the levels to keep everything sounding great.
6. To delete all the markers in the Timeline, press Control+~
(the key at the top left corner of your keyboard).
Very cool.
This tip is from the August,
2006, issue of "Larry's Final Cut Pro Newsletter," a very cool
FREE monthly Final Cut Pro newsletter -- subscribe at Larry's
web site: www.larryjordan.biz.
Larry Jordan is a
post-production consultant and an Apple-Certified Trainer
in Digital Media with over 25 years experience as producer,
director and editor with network, local and corporate credits.
Based in Los Angeles, he's a member of both the Directors
Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.
Any references to trademarks
or products are used for editorial purposes only. Text copyright
2006 by Larry Jordan and Associates, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission from Author.
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